Tag Archives: Lexus

Nominees for North American Car and Truck of the Year Announced

North American Car of the YearIt is that time of the year again. The long list for the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year awards have been released, and GM should be feeling pretty good right now.

29 cars and 18 truck/utility vehicles are being considered for the awards. At the end of the year, 50 automotive journalists will vote on 5 cars and 4 trucks to go on to the semi-finals, and the numbers will be trimmed down to 3 cars and trucks/utilities for the final round.

Winners won’t be announced until the 2014 North American International Auto Show next January, nearly half a year from now, which gives plenty of time for speculation. Last year, the Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500 took home the top prizes, and GM is looking pretty good this year with 2 Cadillacs, 5 Chevrolets, and 1 GMC on the list. Still, there are 29 cars and 18 truck/utility vehicles battling it out for the top honors, and the winners have to survive 3 rounds of voting. There is a definite possibility for a few surprises before next January.

Check out the full list below.

2014 Car of the Year

  1. 2014 Acura RLX
  2. 2014 BMW 4 Series
  3. 2014 Cadillac CTS
  4. 2014 Cadillac ELR
  5. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette
  6. 2014 Chevrolet Impala
  7. 2014 Chevrolet Spark EV
  8. 2014 Chevy SS
  9. 2014 Fiat 500L and E
  10. 2014 Honda Fit EV
  11. 2014 Infiniti Q50
  12. 2014 Jaguar F-Type
  13. 2014 Kia Cadenza
  14. 2014 Kia Forte, 5-door, Koup
  15. 2014 Kia Soul
  16. 2014 Lexus IS
  17. 2014 Maserati Ghibli
  18. 2014 Mazda3
  19. 2014 Mazda6
  20. 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class
  21. 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
  22. 2014 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  23. 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  24. 2014 Mini Paceman
  25. 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage
  26. 2014 Nissan Versa Note
  27. 2014 Porsche Cayman/Cayman S
  28. 2014 Smart fortwo electric
  29. 2014 Toyota Corolla

2014 Truck/Utility of the Year

  1. 2014 Acura MDX
  2. 2014 BMW X5
  3. 2014 Buick Encore
  4. 2014 Chevrolet Silverado
  5. 2014 Ford Transit Connect / Wagon
  6. 2014 GMC Sierra
  7. 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB
  8. 2014 Jeep Cherokee
  9. 2014 Kia Sorento
  10. 2014 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
  11. 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander
  12. 2014 Nissan Rogue
  13. 2014 Nissan NV200 Compact
  14. 2014 Ram 2500/3500
  15. 2014 Subaru Forester
  16. 2014 Toyota Tundra
  17. 2014 Toyota RAV4

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U.S. News & World Report Rank Top Family Vehicles for 2013

If you’re looking for a new family car in 2013, you might be surprised at the sheer variety that automakers are offering.

Last month, U.S. News & World Report named 19 vehicles as their 2013 Best Cars for Families in a variety of categories ranging from Best Compact Car to Best Luxury Full-Size SUV. Winners were judged based on safety, reliability, interior space, seating capacity, and the inclusion of “family-friendly” features like keyless entry and back seat entertainment systems.

GM dominated the list with six winners. The Chevrolet brand took home two awards with the Chevrolet Suburban winning Best Full-Size SUV and the Chevrolet Cruze winning Best Compact Car. Buick also took home two award with the Buick Verano taking Best Upscale Small Car and the Buick Lacrosse taking Best Full-Size Car, and the Cadillac Escalade rounded out GM’s wins with Best Luxury Full-Size SUV.

Here is the full list of winners:

Compact Car – 2013 Chevrolet Cruze
Upscale Small Car – 2013 Buick Verano
Hatchback – 2013 Toyota Prius
Midsize Car – 2013 Ford Fusion
Upscale Midsize Car – 2013 Acura TL
Full-Size Car – 2013 Buick LaCrosse
Luxury Full-Size Car – 2013 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Hybrid Car – 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid
Wagon – 2013 Subaru Outback
Compact SUV – 2013 Honda CR-V
Luxury Compact SUV – 2013 Audi Q5
2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
3-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Traverse
Luxury 2-Row Midsize SUV – 2013 Lexus RX350
Luxury 3-Row SUV – 2013 Lincoln MKT
Full-Size SUV – 2013 Chevrolet Suburban
Luxury Full-Size SUV – 2013 Cadillac Escalade
Hybrid SUV – 2013 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Minivan – 2013 Honda Odyssey

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Consumer Reports: Top 10 Cars We Would Buy Again

Repeat business and brand loyalty is extremely important in any industry, but it is especially important in the auto industry. Bad customer feedback can sink a model and cost an automaker greatly. Fortunately, there are plenty of vehicles on the market today that have repeat business, and Consumer Reports has compiled the top 10 cars that have customers coming back for more.

According to Consumer Reports, consumers said they would be most likely to buy the following cars again:

10/9. Toyota Camry hybrid and Ford Mustang V-8 (87 percent)
8/7. Dodge Charger V-8 and Audi A-6 (88 percent)
6. Lexus GS (89 percent)
5/4. Dodge Challenger V-8 and Audi A7 (90 percent)
3/2. Porsche 911 and Chevrolet Corvette (91 percent)
1. Chevrolet Volt (92 percent)

With only a 5 point range between tenth and first place, competition was tough this year. There was a tie for ninth, seventh, fourth, and second places. All of these automakers should be proud of these numbers, especially that the top 5 were at 90 percent or above. These are customer satisfaction stats that every company dreams of and rarely achieve, so consumers that are in the market for a new car should consider taking at least one of these 10 vehicles for a test drive.

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2014 Lexus IS Surprises Detroit Auto Show with Luxury, “Bold” Design

The North American International Auto Show, better known as the Detroit Auto Show, is happening this week, and a few of the newly unveiled models are already trying to break from the pack and fighting to be the stand-out of the show. Among these competitors is the 2014 Lexus IS, and surprising to some critics, it is impressing show goers with a mix of luxury and sporty.

Many critics didn’t go into the Detroit Auto Show expecting to be impressed by Lexus. Jalopnik writer Raphael Orlove opened his review with, “I am a Lexus hater,” and he characterizes Lexus as being “willfully bland, inoffensive and characterless.” Autoblog’s Chris Paukert wrote about Lexus’ struggle to remove “some of the starch from its collar,” and all around, critics were generally skeptical that Lexus would bring anything radically different with the new IS.

Despite their predictions, though, all of them have had to eat their words. When head engineer Junichi Furuyama asked, “So, is it fun to drive?” Motor Trend’s Nate Martinez didn’t even have to pause before answering, “Most definitely.” By far, the funniest mea culpa was Jalopnik’s headline “I Kissed A 2014 Lexus IS And I Liked It.”

Check out the Lexus’ grand entrance to the Detroit Auto Show below:

 

Readers, what do you think? Will the 2014 Lexus IS change the way that people view the Lexus? Do you think this radical departure will pay off? Leave a comment below, and let us know what you think!

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Consumer Reports: Best Value Cars of 2012

When shopping for a car, it is important to look at the long-term value of that car. As 2012 comes to an end, Consumer Reports has released its list of the top vehicles that will retain their original value, and they chose an overall best value from the wide range of vehicles on the market last year. Needless to say, Toyota was very happy with the results.

Here is a full rundown of the winners.

Overall Best Value – Toyota Prius
Small Hatchback – Toyota Prius Four
Small Sedan – Toyota Corolla LE
Family Sedan – Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE
Upscale Sedan – Acura TSX (I4)
Luxury Sedan – Cadillac CTS
Sports Car/Convertible – Mini Cooper
Wagon/Minivan – Toyota Prius V Three
Small SUV – Honda CR-V EX
Midsize SUV – Toyota Highlander Limited (V6)
Large/Luxury SUV – Lexus RX350

Across the board, Toyota Motor Company was the clear favorite taking 7 of the 11 categories with the Lexus RX350 included, and none of Toyota Motor Company’s vehicles made the Worst Value list. No other automaker even came close to that level of excellence. Better yet, many of the vehicles featured on the list are hybrid vehicles or have an extremely good fuel economy, so consumers are saving money at the pump.

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New Car Financing: Automakers Offer Discounts for the Holidays

With Christmas coming up quickly, car shoppers are looking to get into a car soon that can handle winter weather. Fortunately, automakers are making it easier to afford both their new and certified pre-owned vehicles with all sorts of holiday discounts and deals.

According to Autoweek, everyone from Kia to Audi and Volkswagen will have fantastic deals all the way up through the beginning of January. Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Volkswagen all have offers going through January 2, and Audi and Kia’s offers are good through January 7.

Right now, January 7 seems far away. It might sound like car shoppers have plenty of time to get in on these deals, but the truth is that the holiday season goes by very quickly. There are family gatherings, office parties, and super-special-mega sales at the mall, not to mention any traveling to see extended family. This is potentially the best time of year to get a car because new models are coming in, and dealership want to move their inventory of last year’s models out the door. Unfortunately, many car shoppers will miss out on this golden opportunity because they procrastinate and don’t make it a priority to get into a dealership.

This is why Approved Loan Store is such a great asset to serious car buyers this holiday season. Every day of the year, we work to get our customers the car they want at the best terms possible, even if they have no credit or challenged credit. We keep the car buying process simple so you can spend more time with your family and less time going from dealership to dealership looking for the best deal. To get started, simply fill out our secure online auto loan application here. Within 24 to 48 hours, one of our representatives will contact you to review your application and set an appointment for you with an Approved Loan Store dealership. You meet with our Special Finance Representative, and they will work with you to get the best rates possible. Many customers drive off with a car the same day, and you can see testimonials from real Approved Loan Store customers here!

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Image courtesy of digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Used Car Financing: ALG Announces Residual Value Award Winners

Earlier this week, ALG announced the winners of its 14th Annual Residual Value Awards which honors vehicles that are projected to retain the highest percentage of MSRP after a three-year period. Top honors for Mainstream and Premium brands went to Honda and Acura, but the big winner of the year was Toyota with six awards.

Toyota took home six segment awards for the Toyota Prius c, Toyota FJ Cruiser, Toyota Sequoia, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Toyota Land Cruiser. Interestingly enough, though, Toyota only ranked sixth on the Mainstream Brand rankings after Mazda, Subaru, Scion, Hyundai, and Honda.

Here is a complete breakdown of the awards results and the top 10 brand rankings for Mainstream and Premium Brands.

Segment Awards

Sub Compact Car – Honda Fit
Compact Car – Hyunda Elantra
Midsize Car – Honda Accord
Fullsize Car – Hyundai Azera
Sports Car – Scion FR-S
Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Toyota Prius c
Minivan – Honda Odyssey
Sub Compact Utility Vehicle – MINI Cooper Countryman
Compact Utility Vehicle – Toyota FJ Cruiser
Midsize Utility Vehicle – Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Sequoia
Midsize Pickup – Toyota Tacoma
Fullsize Pickup – Toyota Tundra
Premium Compact Car – MINI Cooper
Premium Midsize Car – Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Premium Fullsize Car – Lexus GS 350
Premium Executive – Lexus LS 460
Premium Sports Car – Porsche 911 Carrera
Premium Alt-Fuel Vehicle – Mercedes-Benz ML350 BlueTEC
Premium Compact Utility Vehicle – Acura RDX
Premium Midsize Utility Vehicle – Audi Q7
Premium Fullsize Utility Vehicle – Toyota Land Cruiser

Top 10 Mainstream Brands

Honda
Hyundai
Scion
Subaru
Mazda
Toyota
Nissan
Kia
Volkswagen
Mitsubishi

Top 10 Premium Brands

Acura
Infiniti
Audi
Lexus
Mercedes-Benz
BMW
Cadillac
Porsche
Volvo
Lincoln

Readers, we want to hear from you! Are you surprised by the awards and ranking results? Which cars would you have picked for the segment awards? Leave a comment below, and tell us what you think!

Are you looking to get into a reliable new or used car? Approved Loan Store can help! Good credit, bad credit, no credit, we will work with you to get you a car you want at terms you can afford! Fill out our secure online auto loan application here, and get more car news and buying tips by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!

The Paris Motor Show: What’s New and Shiny from Lexus

The Paris Motor Show is coming up in a little over a week, and all the major car manufacturers are giving auto enthusiasts an early sneak peek at what they can expect to see from the show. Up until the show next week, we are going to bring you the latest news and announcements coming out of the Paris Motor Show.

Lexus’ big headliner at the 2012 Paris Motor Show will be a new concept car making its debut this year. The LF-CC will have a lot to live up to after the unveiling of the LF-LC at the Detroit Motor Show earlier this year with its sporty look and bold tagline, “The Pursuit of Perfection.” How will Lexus make the LF-CC stand out in an already large number of concept cars at the Paris Motor Show?

The first pictures of the LF-CC look slick, classy, and more understated than the LF-LC.  On the outside, the bodywork is designed for maximum traction, and the mesh grille and LED 3-light headlights give it a decidedly cool modern look. On the inside, there is a new 2.5 liter full hybrid powertrain with a high-output electric motor. Like other concept cars coming to the Paris Motor Show, lower carbon dioxide emissions are a concern, and their new hybrid powertrain gives out less than 100 g/km. According to a press release from Toyota, Lexus is planning to integrate this hybrid powertrain in its other models in the next few years, so while the model is a concept car, the technology it brings will be available soon.

Lexus did not include any pictures of the car’s interior, but they are putting emphasis on their Human Machine Interface, or HMI, design philosophy. They claim that the layout of the interior creates a better driving experience that will keep the driver focused and comfortable. The interior color scheme is described as a “warm, elegant amber leather finish” and compliments the outside’s contrasting metallic finish.

I will be looking for the LF-CC at the show, but right now, I am not as excited for the LF-CC as some of the other concept cars. The new hybrid powertrain sounds interesting, and I really love the exterior shots. The problem is that they are playing up the car as a “superior driving experience,” and a huge part of a luxury car is its interior. If they had included even just one picture of that “elegant amber leather finish,” I could get more excited for its premiere, but as it is right now, I feel like I’ve only seen half of a car.

To see more of the upcoming show, stay tuned to the Approved Loan Store and check out the event’s official site here. Also, get the latest auto news by liking Approved Loan Store on Facebook, following Approved Loan Store on Twitter, and subscribing to Approved Loan Store on YouTube!